gauger



F. A. GAUGER SAFETY PILOT LIGHT Nov. 8, 1932.-

Filed Dec. 22, 1927 Patented Novo W32 are herein FRANK A. GAUGER FMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 MILWAUKEE GAS SPECIALTY COMPANY, ACORPORATION 01 WISCONSIN earner rrnoa arena Application filed December22, 1927 Serial No. 241,829.

This invention relates to a safety pilot light.

Uhjects of this invention are to provide a novel pilot light such,forinstance, as one 5 adapted for burners, which is so constructed thatit will render a control device inoperative when the pilot light isextinguished and will hold the controldevice in operative position whenthe pilot light is lighted so that there is no danger of the accidentalturning on of the fuel when there is no burning pilot. Further objectsare to providea safety pilot light which is a unitary structure andwhich may, therefore, be removed and positioned as a'unit, which isfool-proof, which is selfcontained, which is waterproof, and in whichthe parts may be readily reached for repair or adjustment.

Further objects are to provide a pilot light which is so constructedthat it is impossible to blow out the pilot light by the concussion orexplosion of an adjacent burner, but which is so constructed that thepressure is'equalized in the tube of the pilot light and consequently inwhich there is no fluctuation of the flame even when there is anexplosion due to the operation of the burner as, for instance, when theburner is ignited or extinguished,

Further objects are to provide a safety pilot light in which a Bunsenburner effect is produced to thereby have a smokeless blue fiame for thepilot light, and in which two tubes or equivalent construction areemployed, with agas supply nozzle in one of a the tubes and with theother tube supplying the air at the base of the tube, the tubes havingopen ends located in approximately the siime zone, so that variation inpressure at the burning flame will not produce a blast of air in eitherdirection through the tubes.

Further objects are to provide a very simple construction which iseasily made, and which consists of few parts.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view of one form of the device with parts broken away andin section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional viewon the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

- Figure 3 is a rear end view of the structure shown inFigure 1 with theend cap removed, such view being partly in section and enlarged;

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the rear end of the modified formof pilot light, such view corresponding to a section on the line H ofFigure 5;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5.5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, itwill be seen that the pilot light consists of a tubular main member 1which consists in efiect of two tubes, as it is divided along anapproximately diametrical line by means of a partition 2' extendinglengthwise thereof. The outer end of the tube is closed by means of anend plug or member 3 which is provided with an adjusting screw 4threaded therethrough and locked in place by means of a lock nut 5. Theup inner end of the screw 4 is socketed and receives the rod 6.Preferably, the rod 6 is relatively non-expanding and will hereinafterbe referred to as the non-expanding rod while the tube 1 lengthens withincrease in temperature. The net result isthat the rod is drawnoutwardly with reference to the head 7 which is preferably screwed orotherwise rigidly secured to the rear end of the tube 1.

It will be seen from the structure thus far described that the apparatusconstitutes in efiect a U-shaped tube having an inlet air supplypassageway 8 and a mixture passageway 9. The air passageway 8 isprovided as with a plurality of apertures 10 adjacent the outer end ofthe structure and the fuel pas-- sageway 9 is provided with a pluralityof apertures 11 in the same zone as the apertures 10.

The head 7 is hollow and is provided with a fuel supply nozzle 12projecting, outwardly in line with the passage 9. This nozzle issupplied in any suitable manner as by means of the port 13; The rear endof the apera5 ture into which the nozzle 12 is threaded is closed bymeans of a screw 14:. This screw may also hold a stationary contactcarrying plate 15, as shown in Figure 1. This contact pl ate carries apair of contacts 16 (see 100 Figure 3 The contacts 16 are connected to apair conductors 17 which are housed in a flexible cable 18 provided witha fitting 19 secured in the head 7. The head 7 also carries a smallleverconsisting of atmetal plate 20 provided with pivotally mounted arms 21.Preferably, the arms 21 are carried by a pin 22 passing transverselythrough the head, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. A spring 23 passesaround the pivot pin 22 and bears against. the head at one side andagainst the lever or plate at the other. Preferably, this spring isprovided with a downturned portion 24 engaging over the edge of the headto prevent the spring from slip ing inwardly, the spring being preventedrom slipping outwardly by means of the pin 22. o

. The end of the rod 6 bears or abuts against the end of the plate orlever 20 so that if the rod moves inwardly, that is, to the left withreference to Figure 1, it will rock the lever 20 away from the plate 15.

The lever 20 carries a U-shaped contact spring member 25 adapted toengage the stationary contacts 16. The movable or U- shaped springmember 21 is rocked upwardly into engagement with the contact 16whenever the pilot light is in operation. It will be seen that the pilotlight furnishes heat which expands the tube 1 and the lengthens ing ofthis tube draws the rod 6 to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, andallows closing of the switch. Thus, the control member is held inoperative position while the pilot light is in operation. If, however,for any reason the pilot light should be extinguished, the contractingtube 1 will force the non-expanding rod 6 inwardly and thus open theswitch, or, in other words, move the controlling device into inoperativeposition.-

The head 7 is externally threaded and receives the internally threadedclosure cap 26. It is apparent that this closure cap may be very readilyremoved to give access to the switch parts for renewal, adjustment, orrepair, without disturbing the pilot.

Further, it is apparent that the device may be set for operation at anydesired temperature, corresponding to the particular conditions underwhich it operates by adjusting the screw 4. The lock nut 5 is subseuently tightened to hold the screw in its a justed position.

The same inventive idea is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 in which avalveis employed for the control device and is adapted to control anysuitable diaphragm .or similar type of pressureactuated main, valve,such valve being of well-known construction.

The construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to thatpreviously described in reference to the tube 1, the partition 2, andthe rod 6. However, the head 27 is of slightly different construction.It is provided with a hollow interior 28- within which a.

pivotally mounted lever 29 is positioned in' tween the inlet 33 and theport 34. The port 7 34 leads to a discharge nozzle 35 which is.

adapted to discharge into the space 9. The pilot nozzle is indicated bythe reference character 36 in Figures 4 and 5, and is in communicationwith the pilot supply pipe 37.

The hollow compartment 28 of the head 27 may be closed by a plate 38held in place by means of screws, as indicated in Figure 5.

It is apparent that as long as the pilot light is in operation, thatthelever 29 will remain in its uppermost position and will hold the valve32 open, thus permitting discharge of any pressure gas from thediaphragm valve heretofore mentioned and not shown.

This valve 32 is thus a controlling device similar in function to theswitch mechanism previously described in connection with Figure 1. It isso constructed that it cuts off discharge from the passageway 33 to thenozzle 35 when the pilot light is out of operation.

The compartment 39 within which the valve 32 is mounted may be closed bymeans of a plug 40, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. It

is apparent from the description and drawing that a novel form of pilotlight has been disclosed, which is so constructed that any variation ofpressure due to explosion or concussion of the main burner with which itmay be associated, will not affect the free burning or continuousoperation of the pilot light and cannot blow it out. Both of theopenings 10 and 11 are in the same zone and consequently are subjectedto the same pressure. Obviously, therefore, a change of pressure at thispoint will not affect the free flow of air through the pipe ortubular-portion 8 and the flow of combustible mixture through the pipeor tubular portion 9. Instead, the operation of the safety pilot lightis wholly independent of any variation in gas pressure.

Further, it will be seen that the pilot burner is a safety device whichpermits a controldevice to operate when the pilot burner is burning, butwhich prevents the control device from operating when the pilot burneris not burning.

Further, it is to be noted that the device is self-contained and is ofunitary constructlon, so that it may be inserted or removed as required.It is to be noted also that the device is substantially fool-proof andis of rugged and reliable construction, as all of its parts opening, afuel nozzle opening into said mixare enclosed in the body of the deviceand are thus protected from damage.

It will be seen also very few number of parts and may be easilyproduced.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as illustrative rather thanlimiting as theinvention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such inventionis to be deter mined as claimed. I claim:

1. A safety pilot burner for use with a main burner, said safety pilotburner comprising a tubular body portion having a lon- 'tudinallyextending partition dividlng said ody portlon into an air inlet portionand a mixing portion communicating at one end and having an air inletopenin and a mixture outlet opening adjacent the ot er end and inapproximately the same zone as said air inlet ing portion, means foroperating a fuel control for the main burner and thermostatic meanscarried by said body portion for controllin said first mentioned meanssaid tubular bo y portion forming a part of said thermostatic means.

provided with an air thereof and the other of which constitutes a 2. Asafety pilot burner comprising a tubular' member, means separating saidtubular member into two compartments, one of which constitutes an airsupply compartment and is et opening at one end mixing compartment andis provided with a mixture outlet located adjacent the air inlet,

means for sup'plyin fuel to the mixing compartment, a rod wit in andconnected to said tubular member, said rod and said tubular memberhaving different co-efiicients of expansion, a casing, said casing beingconnected to said tubular member at the end opposite said air inletopening, and electrical contacts carried within said casing, one of saidcontacts bgilng movable and being controlled by said In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee in thecounty of Milwaukee and State of wisthat the device has a v FRANK A.GAUGEB. f

